A MAN’s asbestos death has sparked a search for former colleagues.

Anthony Minter’s family are hoping people who used to work with him will come forward to shed light on working conditions from the past that they believe made him ill.

Bradford man, Mr Minter was 84-years-old when he died in February 2015, three months after doctors diagnosed him with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs linked to asbestos exposure.

Mr Minter, who lived at Leafield Grove in Eccleshill, had worked as a building labourer taking on mixed duties over the years on construction sites.

He was employed by Grovers Contractors Ltd, in the Southwick area of West Sussex from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1995.

His work had included helping tradesmen mix cement, transport goods and sweeping up building sites.

It was in July 2014 that his health started to fail. Mr Minter started becoming breathless and went for a CT scan, which revealed fluid on his lung.

At first the fluid was drained and he returned home, but he deteriorated again and after being diagnosed with the disease in November 2014, died just three months later.

His family is now urging people who worked with him and have information about his working conditions to contact their solicitors to help in a claim for compensation.

His son, also named Anthony, said: “Dad worked at Grovers all of his life and helped out on pretty much any job that needed him. We are therefore optimistic that at least one colleague, or even a family member of a colleague, will remember him and have information detailing the conditions that my dad worked in.

“Losing dad was incredibly hard for our family but if we can deduce the reason for his disease, we can at least have peace of mind.”

Helen Tomlin, the solicitor representing the family, said: “We are looking to trace people who worked for Grovers Contractors Ltd, as well as anyone who may know the whereabouts of the owners of the company, so we can see whether asbestos was present in the building sites and materials that he used on sites around the Southwick area.”

Anyone with information about the workplace conditions of Grovers Contractors Ltd should contact Helen Tomlin at Thompsons Solicitors’ Leeds office on 0113 2056385.